Grady’s eyes glossed over. “It would take more than a fucker like Gavin Blake to keep my down, honey bee.”
I gasped, and I felt Dane’s body stiffen behind me.
“That’s who did this to you?”
“That’s what the police told me,” said Grady. “They have it all on camera, and will be using it if I decide to press charges.”
“If?”
“I honestly don’t want to talk about this right now, please. I just want to talk about random shit, like why you’re here, and why Dane is with you.” Grady lifted a brow at me, and I shifted on the spot. Did he have to say that while Dane was in the room?
Luckily, Dane decided to cut in. “I’m going to leave you two to catch up. I’m glad you’re okay, Grady.” I looked up at Dane at the same time he looked down at me. “Call me when you’re done, just don’t take too long. We need to get you home.”
I nodded, and turned my head back in Grady’s direction. He was staring at me.
“What?”
Both of Grady’s brows lifted and he gave me a look that said really?
“How long have you been sleeping with him?” Grady asked bluntly.
“W-what?” I sputtered. “I’m not - ”
“Baby girl, you can lie to anyone else except me. I know what those googly eyes mean. You have seen that sexy hunk of man meat naked, and judging by the color of your cheeks, it’s been several times.”
My mouth dropped open, and I tried to form some kind of rebuttal, but it wouldn’t come. Was it that obvious?
“I…uh…”
Grady chuckled, and then grabbed his ribs with a wince. “Why do you look so horrified? It’s not like I kicked your puppy.”
“How’d you know?” I asked. He was pretty damn observant for someone who’d just spent the last two days in a coma.
I thought we’d done a pretty good job of keeping it a secret, considering Jade had never picked up on anything. If she knew, then everyone else wasn’t far behind.
He shrugged. “I saw it coming before anyone else did, pun intended.” He winked. “It’s fate. Like Romeo and Juliet.”
I frowned. “That’s a tragedy.”
Grady waved me off. “That’s just semantics, and to be honest, I think you and Dane just work. Now, the real tragedy is this itchy as fuck hospital gown, and the fact that I still have a pipe up my dick to pee.”
I bit my lip, and then burst into a fit of laughter. I’d missed Grady so much, and despite his calling me out on my situation with Dane, it felt good to be able to talk to him again. He didn’t judge me, and I needed that.
“You’re one of a kind, Grady Ambrose,” I said between my bouts of laughter.
“Oh trust me, I know. Now tell me what the hell I’ve missed, and don’t leave anything out.”
“Where do you want me to start?” I asked hesitantly.
Grady simply rolled his eyes, and replied, “With the sex. Duh.”
CHAPTER TW ENTY-SIX
Dane
I WAS SITTING in the stairwell of our dorm building staring at the box of sweatshirts that Kennedy had dropped when she fell. She’d fallen asleep as soon as her head hit her pillow, and I came down here to pick up the box. The sweatshirts were much bigger than anything else she owned which meant they could only belong to one other person, and it wasn’t Mr. Monroe.
I didn’t want to think about Kennedy’s brother, and what he represented to my family, but seeing his things only reminded me of why getting involved with Kennedy had been a bad idea from the start. I didn’t think ahead though. All I remember was wanting her and having her, and then wanting her again and again. I didn’t stop long enough to think how it would all work out in the end, or that there would eventually be an end.
I tried pulling away from her, spending fewer nights wrapped in her, or around her, but I’d become weak where she was concerned, and always wound up right where I started – with Kennedy.
With that in mind, I needed a plan, some kind of fallback for when this was over. I had to accept that there would never be more between us.
The question was did I want more between us? Did I want her to be more than just a girl whose bed and body I shared every night?
The answer to both questions was discomforting, and did nothing to help me sort through my frenzied emotions.
I rubbed my fingers through my hair, and hung my head between my hands as I expelled a heavy breath. I couldn’t escape the ominous feeling that we were running out of time, like I had a ticking clock above my head reminding me that this wasn’t forever, and probably never would be. I could argue that I had no idea why that bothered me so much, but I’d never been one to bullshit myself. Why bother when I was the one who had to face my own reflection every day?
But our time wasn’t up yet, and even with our sordid family history, and the hatred I harbored for her brother, I wanted to spend time with Kennedy until we had none left. We had four days alone together before Reid and Jade returned, and being the glutton for punishment that I was, I wanted to be with her every hour of those four days. As soon as our friends came back, and school started up again for finals we wouldn’t be able to keep up the charade. I was in too deep already, and I suspected Kennedy was too. When the time came, I’d have to be the one to walk away. For both of us.
CHAPTER TW ENTY-SEVEN
Kennedy
AFTER MY DISASTROUS, and slightly embarrassing trip down the stairs two days ago, I noticed a shift in the dynamic between Dane and me. It was subtle, and maybe he intended for it to be that way, but I saw it. He’d become slightly more attentive in the little things that he did, like wrapping my ankle, and making sure I was comfortable before he set out to make us dinner.
It was odd.
But I liked it.
A lot.
It felt normal for us, and he was everything I’d imagined he would be if we were together. As a couple. As Dane-and-Kennedy.
We hadn’t had sex in a few days, and after having had it for almost three consecutive weeks, my sexual frustration was higher than normal. I found myself clenching my thighs more often than not, even when he was doing something as mundane as making a cheese sandwich. Yes, that is how bad it was, and no, I refused to be ashamed. I was only human after all, and Dane had awoken my baser sexual needs the first time he fucked me. Thank the Pope my period was over tomorrow, I wasn’t sure how much longer I would have been able to restrain myself. Our time was limited, and I wanted him one last time before it all ended.
That aside, there was still a sense of dolefulness between the two of us that Dane had been trying very hard to cover by keeping us busy. He was determined to stay with me, and only really went next door when he needed a fresh change of clothes. He even showered here, and it was a test of my will power because I wanted to see him all gloriously wet, and naked, and in my shower no less.
We were sitting on mine and Jade’s slightly worn sofa, him with his long, lithe legs stretched out on front of him, and me with my injured foot propped up on the coffee table in front of us. I was acutely aware of how close Dane’s body was to mine. Even in light grey sweats, and a plain white t-shirt, he looked hot, and beddable. He was watching something or other on one of his sports channels, while I was trying to concentrate on the book I was reading on my Kindle. Trying being the operative word. It was difficult when I could feel the heat coming from his still damp and freshly showered body, and smell the scent of his body wash. It was messing with my body, and the fact that I was fidgety hadn’t escaped him.
“Is your foot okay?” He asked, turning his gaze to me. “You’re restless.”